hilitehead

Its been itching away at my mind for a while now, the deception of Mongolia. I love my country, especially the rural and nomadic sensibility, and I cant speak for everybody, but majority of the city folks have a very delusionary perception of life. Considering the small population of the country, you would expect people to have a formulated way of life – way of seeing, but almost everyone is infatuated with the material artificial surface. Every country has its share of corruption, but particularly the smaller countries such as Mongolia run on corruption. Only a small percentage of the country is rich, and the majority live in poverty. Yet even the struggling populace are pressured to maintain a certain appearance. So the deception lies here – the need to project a wealthy image. You start to wonder whether this heightened sense of self consciousness is really just a cover for the many insecurities and shattered lives that people baggage around.

I’ve heard cases before where one would rather skip a months worth of meals in order to purchase the latest designer wear – a typical third world behavior, as the finance goes down – the materialistic values rise. Of course to a certain degree appearance does matter and it does represents aspects of your wealth, but to abuse and mimic this association is absurd. Yet still, the social pressure remains prominent in every class; for example you would instantly be accepted into a social hierarchy if you own brand name designer clothing, brand name cars, or a luxury apartment. But if you lack material riches you are judged, isolated, and bring shame upon your family. You are pressured to fit in and conform, pressured to present an idealistic image that behind closed doors, does not exist. If I had the power, I would encourage everyone to be their true selves, even if that means wearing inexpensive clothes, because in time everyone’s true colors shine regardless the outer appearance and what good does it do to paint your shell red when its really white. Appearance only matters if you make it matter, in fact one can always choose to stand up for their beliefs against all odds with a bit of will power and inner strength. Appearance can always be used positively as a form of self expression but not an ego badge fellow Mongolians!

So lets travel back in time, and remember our true origins – the land of eternal blue skies and vast plains, woman with their beautiful high cheek bones and long braided hair, men with their horses and merry round faces.